You love helping people in love get married. Lucky for you millions of couples get married each year -- more than 2.1 million in 2010. Advertising your wedding officiant business is an effective way to let people know about your services and keep your business booming beyond wedding season.

Craft Your Message

Before you can advertise your services, you have to craft your message. Think about what you can offer couples and how you describe your wedding ceremonies. Find a niche to fill to set your business apart from other wedding officiants. Developing a niche comes from knowing your target audience and what its needs are. Defining your target audience will help you determine where to advertise. Say you’re an officiant who specializes in second or third or fourth marriages; you want to highlight that the ceremony will celebrate a new love unique to the present and shaped by the past. If you’re a comedian, you might want to say your ceremonies are lighthearted and entertaining. Your message should also include your credentials, the geographical area where you work, contact information and your motivations for providing your services.

Choose Your Media

Consider any of a number of ways to advertise your business and media to do so. Weddingministers.com, TheKnot.com and other wedding-related websites have directories in which you can advertise your business. You can also go the traditional route and place advertisements in the local newspaper. Many newspapers have special wedding sections in the spring, so consider those publications as well. Facebook and Google offer highly targeted advertising options, where you pay for the number of clicks or views your ad receives.

Partner to Promote

Cross promotion is a powerful way to get referrals and build a strong business network in your region. For instance, you might offer to recommend a bakery to your clients if the bakery agrees to display a flier or a stack of business cards. You can also provide referrals on your website simply by placing a link on your site. Try to partner with a variety of wedding-related businesses including florists, photographers, caterers, facilities and wedding planners.

Niche Markets

When couples plan their weddings, they want to create experiences for their guests. Theme weddings need an officiant who is willing to play a starring role in creating the fantasy. Medieval, beach, princess and Hobbit weddings all need someone who is willing to tailor their words and look to the occasion. Keep informed of trends by reading wedding publications, visiting message boards and keeping in touch with wedding planners in your area. Find more niche markets within the demographics of the bride and groom. The couple could be over 65 or the same sex, or they could have a family before tying the knot.

About the Author

Tracey Lamphere has more than 15 years of experience as a reporter and editor. She has contributed to Sound Publishing newspapers in Washington state. Lamphere also specializes in marketing communications and copywriting. She has a Bachelor of Science in business journalism from the University of North Texas.